Nicolás Reinoso, Agricultural Engineer: 'We Discard Links Because We Feel the Options Are Infinite'

Nicolás Reinoso, an agricultural engineer with an MBA and advanced studies from MIT and Cornell, is exploring the intersection of innovation, personal growth, and spiritual well-being. While he lives in the United States, Reinoso frequently travels to Argentina to connect with his roots. He describes himself as a 'nerd' with a lifelong dedication to agriculture and innovation, yet his approach to life and relationships is deeply influenced by his study of Buddhist philosophy.

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We have two dimensions within our mind, one is mindfulness and the other is the conditioned one that was built from everything lived since you were born, school, education, your parents, your friends, the club, sports, work. Everything that shaped you and ended up defining what your personality is today.

After two decades in the corporate world, Reinoso now travels globally, delivering talks on agricultural innovation and writing about relationships, ego, and self-discovery. His journey took a significant turn around 2020 when a personal crisis, marked by persistent anger, prompted him to re-engage with Buddhism. This led him to undertake a pilgrimage in 2022, visiting sacred Buddhist sites in India and Nepal, including Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar.

Reinoso recounts a profound experience in January 2020, prior to the pandemic, where he felt an overwhelming sense of calm and clarity. This awakening prompted him to seek a deeper understanding of this state, which he now explains as experiencing 'mindfulness', a state of being fully present without the mental clutter of the 'conditioned mind.' This conditioned mind, he explains, is shaped by life experiences, education, and societal influences from birth.

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One is born in mindfulness, no one judges, no one evaluates. Dogs or pets, for example, do not have this dimension of the conditioned mind developed: they simply see you and wag their tail with joy even if you scolded them five minutes ago.

He contrasts this with the innate 'mindfulness' present in beings like pets, who live without judgment or past resentments. Reinoso's transformative experience has led him to value living with less stress and fewer burdens, focusing on the present moment. His exploration into Buddhist teachings has provided him with a framework for understanding and cultivating this state of being.

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That morning I experienced living in mindfulness, light, without burdens, without stress, without worry. It was four hours very focused on the present, without mental noise, and when it passed I said I want to understand where this comes from and I started reading about many currents that led me to Buddhism and to find there, an identification with the teachings and their belief systems.